NCAAW: Staley, South Carolina set for continued SEC dominance

The conference that has claimed three-straight national championships—South Carolina, (2022), LSU (2023), South Carolina (2024)—is poised to remain a force in women’s college basketball, with a conference-high seven SEC teams ranked in the AP top 25 preseason poll.

Headlining the conference is South Carolina, who last year completed the trifecta of winning the SEC regular-season title, SEC tournament title and national championship, all while going an undefeated 39-0. Will head coach Dawn Staley’s squad continue to dominate the conference, extending their record mark of 43-straight SEC wins? They’re at least favored to again win the conference, with a panel of SEC and national media voting the Gamecocks as the top team in the preseason media poll. Here’s how the rest of the SEC is expected to shake out:

South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Auburn, Texas A&M, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas

And here are our extended thoughts on South Carolina and the top-tier teams mostly likely to truly challenge them—Texas and LSU—along with a tiering of the rest of the SEC:

South Carolina

Three top-30 recruits—No. 3 Joyce Edwards, who also was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, No. 14 Maddy McDaniel and No. 28 Adhel Tac, who was with the team last season—join a South Carolina team that separated itself from the rest of women’s college basketball last season.

Yet, for as much justifiable excitement as there is about the newcomers, returners will be the primary reason that the Gamecocks are, once again, great. Even with the status of junior forward Ashlyn Watkins uncertain, South Carolina overflows will excellence. The Gamecocks have the pick-and-roll proficiency and pull-up shooting of senior guard Te-Hina PaoPao, the top-notch two-play of senior guard Bree Hall, the quiet consistency of senior forward Sania Feagin, the lockdown defense of junior guard Raven Johnson, the irrepressible energy of junior forward Chloe Kitts, the game-changing flair of sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley and the sharpshooting of sophomore guard Tessa Johnson. Paopao was voted to the Preseason All-SEC First Team, while R. Johnson and Fulwiley were named to the Second Team.

Staley has the best parts in nation, but, under her guidance, the sum of them is even greater.

Texas

Texas might be new to the SEC, but head coach Vic Shaefer is familiar with the conference, having served as head coach at Mississippi State for eight seasons (2012-20).

Yet, to take the Longhorns to the top of the conference, he’ll have to do something he did not consistently do when in Starkville—beat Dawn Staley and South Carolina. Schaefer and the Bulldogs were just 3-12 against the Gamecocks. South Carolina and Texas have met just once since Shaefer arrived in Austin, with the Gamecocks prevailing in an Elite Eight contest in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

But back then, Shaefer didn’t have Madison Booker on his team. The sophomore forward might be the conference’s most talented player. She not only was voted Preseason Co-SEC Player of the Year, but also was the only SEC Player named to the AP’s preseason All-America team. The Big 12 Player of the Year averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a freshman, leading the Longhorns all the way to the Elite Eight.

She should shine even brighter as sophomore, aided by the return of senior guard Rori Harmon, who was enjoying a fantastic to start to her junior season before tearing her ACL and was named to the Preseason All-SEC Second team, and the arrival of senior guard Laila Phelia, who last season led Michigan in scoring.

LSU

Don’t be distracted by the names LSU lost. Yes, Angel Reese is in the WNBA and Hailey Van Lith took her talents to TCU. But, head coach Kim Mulkey’s team is still teeming with talent and, quite possibly, could prove more cohesive than last season’s team, which sometimes struggled to be the best version of themselves.

The headliners are the Preseason Co-SEC Players of the Year: senior guard Aneesah Morrow and junior guard Flau’jae Johnson. However, sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams, who flashed sweet scoring skill as a freshman and has been named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team, could be the best Tiger. Sophomore center Aalyah Del Rosario also is poised to make a bigger impact in an expanded role. Add on the return of Sa’Myah Smith, who missed last season due to an ACL injury but was a contributor to the 2023 national champion team, and the arrival of a quartet of transfers in senior guard Shayeann Day-Wilson (Miami), junior guard Kailyn Gilbert (Arizona), junior forward Jersey Wolfenbarger (Arkansas) and sophomore guard Mjracle Sheppard (Mississippi State), and LSU could develop the firepower required to test South Carolina.

Tier 2: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky

In this tier, we’re departing from the media panel’s projections to emphasize how newcomers could challenge the conference’s hierarchy.

Oklahoma, a new arrival to the SEC from the Big 12 like Texas, is expected to threaten the conference’s top three teams. The Sooners return key contributors from a team that won the Big 12 regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, including redshirt senior forward Skylar Vann, a Preseason All-SEC Second Team nominee. The Sooners also added one of the most sought-after transfers in junior center Raegan Beers, who helped Oregon State advance to the Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA Tournament. She’s been named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.

Tennessee and Kentucky, of course, are long-tenured SEC teams. But, both are entering new eras under new head coaches who are expected to introduce new identities. On Rocky Top, head coach Kim Caldwell will attempt to import a high-pace, 3-point-heavy style that, in just one season, took Marshall from mediocrity to a 17-1 mark in the Sun Belt, the conference tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1997.

In that tournament game, Caldwell’s Thundering Herd lost to the Hokies of Virginia Tech and head coach Kenny Brooks, who now is in charge at Kentucky. Brooks turned Virginia Tech into a national power behind a strategically-sophisticated inside-out offensive system. In Lexington, however, Brooks will be without Elizabeth Kitley, one of the nation’s most skilled offensive bigs during her Virginia Tech career. He will have Georgia Amoore, the star point guard who chose to forgo the WNBA and transfer to Kentucky for her graduate season. An unabashed 3-point bomber who is proficient in the pick-and-roll, look for Amoore, a Preseason All-SEC First Team selection, to carry the offensive load for the Wildcats.

Tier 3: Ole Miss, Alabama

These two teams fall into the same tier due to a persistent trend. For the past few seasons, both the Rebels and Tide enter the season announcing their intentions to establish themselves among the SEC’s upper-echelon. Yet, neither squad has been able to get over the hump, instead remaining closer to the middle of the pack than to the top tier.

Until the actual breakthrough happens, skepticism of their ability to reach that upside will linger. Both head coaches, however, will be able to rely on experienced star to steer their squads toward loftier ambitions. In Oxford, Yolett McPhee-McCuin has graduate wing and Preseason All-SEC Second Team honoree Madison Scott. In Tuscaloosa, Kristy Curry will look to graduate guard and Preseason All-SEC First Team selection Sarah Ashlee Barker.

Tier 4: Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Auburn

Expect one of these teams to separate themselves from the pack and make a push for a NCAA Tournament berth.

Last season, both Vanderbilt and Auburn continued their steady rise out of the SEC cellar, a trajectory they hope continues this season. The Tigers’ effort will be aided by sophomore guard Taliah Scott, who arrives on the Plains of Auburn after turning in a superb scoring season as a freshman at Arkansas. The highest-recruit of the Shea Ralph era in freshman guard Mikayla Blakes, ranked No. 8 in the class of 2024, will be expected to elevate the Commodores.

At Florida, head coach Kelly Rae Finley enters her fourth season, while at Mississippi State, head coach Sam Purcell begins his third. Both coaches led their teams to the NCAA Tournament in their first seasons before back sliding. This season, avoiding further slippage is a top priority. The Gators will look to a trio of freshmen to help their cause in guard Liv McGill, the No. 13 recruit in the class of 2024 who hails from Minnesota’s Hopkins High School, the alma mater of Paige Bueckers, wing Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of Shaquille O’Neal, and wing Kylee Kitts, sister of South Carolina’s Chloe.

The Bulldogs, in contrast, will hope to benefit from experience through graduate guard Jerkaila Jordan, last season’s leading scorer, and graduate wing Eniya Russell, who transferred to Mississippi State from Kentucky.

Tier 5: Texas A&M, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas

After the 2021-22 season, Joni Taylor left Georgia to take the head job at Texas A&M, while the Bulldogs hired Katie Abrahamson-Henderson as head coach. Neither team expected to be swimming in the SEC’s cellar at this point. Nor did Arkansas and head coach Mike Neighbors or Missouri and head coach Robin Pingeton.

In a women’s hoops world increasingly defined by a frothy transfer portal, these schools have seen promising talents depart and/or failed to attract any potential program changers. In the nation’s best conference, that reality results in few wins.